ElderFlower Cordial

[OverWyreGrower]

I bottled my cordial last night, so we've got 500ml out and 1.5 litres in the freezer!

I tried it with vodka and lemonade last night and it makes a rather refreshing cocktail!

I'm having a go at the champagne recipe this weekend, just got to clean my large brewers bucket out tonight!

[Snadger]

Good old eBay!!!!!! Just bought some citric acid from there on Buy It Now!

[OllieMartin]

^You can get citirc acid from Wilko's.

The reason you may find it hard to buy citric acid from pharmacys is because it is used to cook heroin with! So even if they do stock it, you may have trouble getting it off them if you go in in your tracksuit with bags under your eyes!

I've made this a few year's running, I posted the recipe on allrecipes.com:
Elderflower Cordial

Try it in an Elderflower and Lemon Tom Collins:

Ice
1 ounce Gin
1 ounce Limoncello
1 ounce Elderflower Cordial
1/2 ounce Lemon Juice
Fill with Lemonade (or 2tbsp gomme and fill with soda water)

Very nice on a summer's day

[Waffler]

I got hubby to phone round on his day off to find citric acid. He said one chemist practically wanted his inside leg measurement and then said they were out of stock anyway. I got it at an independent pharmacy who asked no questions at all - guess I didn't look like a druggie on that day!

[Snadger]

I got hubby to phone round on his day off to find citric acid. He said one chemist practically wanted his inside leg measurement and then said they were out of stock anyway. I got it at an independent pharmacy who asked no questions at all - guess I didn't look like a druggie on that day!

Thats why I was asked what I wanted it for before being told " No we haven't got any" Grrrrrr!!!!!!*Think I'll put my suit on and go back and ask again*

[newtogardens]

We have just finished our first batch of elderflower champagne from river cottage.

Perfect for a hot summer day, once chilled.

[Snadger]

I've eventually tracked down some Citic acid!

Ordered it from eBay yesterday lunch time and received it this morning!

How about that for service?

Just thought I'd give a plug for eBay seller harmonyandhealth.

[Snadger]

Picked the elderflowers this morning.......bit of a pain in the *rs* to take off the stalks...is there a knack?

Anyway, all done and dusted..will leave it overnight and have a taste........if it aint strong enough will lwave longer.

[Hilary B]

Picked the elderflowers this morning.......bit of a pain in the *rs* to take off the stalks...is there a knack?

Anyway, all done and dusted..will leave it overnight and have a taste........if it aint strong enough will lwave longer.

Much more difficult to describe the technique I use than to demonstrate!
I have longish thumbnails. I hold one 'section' of the 'flowerhead' between 'bend' of first finger and thumbnail (not too tightly). Hold base of stem in other hand and pull. Repeat for each section.
I find it still takes about 30 seconds per flowerhead (average, on a good day), after developing this technique over 4 seasons! (previously just made wine, cordial as well this year). That is nearly 20 mins (if all going smoothly) for enough to make a batch of cordial. Sometimes it can take twice as long.....

[Snadger]

Much more difficult to describe the technique I use than to demonstrate!
I have longish thumbnails. I hold one 'section' of the 'flowerhead' between 'bend' of first finger and thumbnail (not too tightly). Hold base of stem in other hand and pull. Repeat for each section.
I find it still takes about 30 seconds per flowerhead (average, on a good day), after developing this technique over 4 seasons! (previously just made wine, cordial as well this year). That is nearly 20 mins (if all going smoothly) for enough to make a batch of cordial. Sometimes it can take twice as long.....

I remember my Gran making elderflower champagne by having a huge shallow bowl and just leaving the flowerheads on and floating the inflorecences upside down on the top. Dead simple to sieve as well as you just lift off the flowerheads!

[OverWyreGrower]

I didn't take the stalks off when I did the cordial or champagne! I just gave them a vigorous shake and checked for creepy-crawlies, then bunged them in!!

[Snadger]

Just got my first cordial bottle from the freezer and made an elderflower slush..............it was lush!

I bet elderflower lollies would be nice.....and an unusual addition to the freezer?

[Bayleaf]

My recipe is similar - 2-2.5kg sugar (to your own taste), 20 large flower heads, 50g citric acid, 3 small lemons thinly sliced, 2 litres water. Put them all together, use cold water. Stand in bright light, leave for 24-48 hours.
Do not squeeze the flower heads when straining (through muslin) as the sap from them is unpleasant - another reason not to use boiling water.
After straining, bring to the boil and then allow to cool while covered.
Bottle in screw-top (wine) bottles with a quarter Cambden tablet per bottle.
It keeps at least 4 years, with some loss of flavour.
Makes a little over 3 litres.

Nice with gin but probably best made with soda water - about 3 or 4 soda to 1 cordial.

[Hilary B]

My recipe is similar - 2-2.5kg sugar (to your own taste), 20 large flower heads, 50g citric acid, 3 small lemons thinly sliced, 2 litres water. Put them all together, use cold water. Stand in bright light, leave for 24-48 hours.
Do not squeeze the flower heads when straining (through muslin) as the sap from them is unpleasant - another reason not to use boiling water.
After straining, bring to the boil and then allow to cool while covered.
Bottle in screw-top (wine) bottles with a quarter Cambden tablet per bottle.
It keeps at least 4 years, with some loss of flavour.
Makes a little over 3 litres.

Nice with gin but probably best made with soda water - about 3 or 4 soda to 1 cordial.

I used boiling water (because that is what the recipe I was given said) AND I squeezed the bag of lemons-and-flowers. No bitterness, but perhaps that is because I took the trouble to remove all traces of stalk????
I HATE Camden tablets, and refuse to use them. When I first started making wines and similar, I did use the things, reluctantly. When I stopped using them I stopped getting headaches every time I went near the brews!!

Oh yes, I also dilute it with sparkling bottled water, about 7 to one!

[Snadger]

I used boiling water (because that is what the recipe I was given said) AND I squeezed the bag of lemons-and-flowers. No bitterness, but perhaps that is because I took the trouble to remove all traces of stalk????
I HATE Camden tablets, and refuse to use them. When I first started making wines and similar, I did use the things, reluctantly. When I stopped using them I stopped getting headaches every time I went near the brews!!

Oh yes, I also dilute it with sparkling bottled water, about 7 to one!

I don't like camden tablets either...........they stink of bleach!